Key Highlights
- The Montreal Canadiens will face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 21, 2025.
- Pittsburgh Penguins have a tough upcoming schedule with games against Maple Leafs and an holiday break.
- The Pens will be looking to improve after their recent losses to the Canadiens.
- Montreal Canadiens are coming off a strong turnaround since their loss to Tampa Bay.
Pittsburgh Penguins: A Focused Team Entering Break
The Pittsburgh Penguins, currently in 5th place in the Metropolitan Division with 37 points, have an upcoming busy schedule. They are set to travel to Toronto on December 24 for a game against the Maple Leafs and will then embark on their holiday break from December 24-27.
Despite their struggles recently, Pittsburgh is hoping that the break can provide them with some much-needed rest and preparation before returning to action. It’s clear that the team needs all the support they can get after back-to-back defeats against Montreal.
Montreal Canadiens: A Resilient Turnaround
The Montreal Canadiens, currently in 2nd place of the Atlantic Division with 42 points, have shown significant improvement since their loss to Tampa Bay on December 11. They have won four out of five games, including back-to-back victories over Pittsburgh.
Key players like Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki continue to excel while Juraj Slafkovsky has stepped up his game with two goals against the Penguins. The team is also expecting an important return from trade acquisition Danault, who could provide a boost in the middle of the lineup.
Projected Lines and Scratches
The Montreal Canadiens are set to field their projected lines as follows: Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Zack Bolduc; Juraj Slafkovsky – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov; Alexandre Texier – Jake Evans – Josh Anderson. The defense will feature Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, and Alexandre Carrier with Arber Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom providing support.
Goalies Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler are in line to start the game, with potential scratches including Jayden Struble and Philip Danault. The Canadiens will be without Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook, and Kirby Dach due to their injuries on the Reserve list.
Key Statistics and Observations
Stuart Skinner is expected to start in goal for the Penguins tonight, despite his recent struggles. He has a record of 0-3-4 over his last seven decisions, with his only victory coming against Washington on November 6th.
The Canadiens are well-equipped with offensive firepower and will be looking to capitalize on Danault’s presence, who can add a reliable checking center role. This move could provide the team with much-needed depth in the middle of the lineup.
In summary, both teams have their challenges heading into this matchup.
The Penguins need rest, while the Canadiens are riding high after a recent turnaround. The game promises to be an exciting contest as these teams face off on December 21, 2025.